Sir: I am not well used to writing, and would any time prefer to use the spade instead of the pen; but I think it is a duty we all owe to each other to communicate any facts we know in return for those we receive through your valuable journal. In a late number, Mr. W. Bacon gives his experience with the Gooseberry. He instances a case where a bush suffered to become choked by weeds, escaped from the mildew which formerly attacked it. I have had experience so very like his for the past three years, that I am sure it will please him to find his opinions so nearly confirmed; and perhaps others may derive a hint, by which the difficulties which surround the cultivation of this indispensable fruit may be removed.

Three years ago, our little place was bought from a small farmer, or " truckman" (as we call them here in our town), for a country residence. Along a line fence were many native gooseberry bushes, which I have always supposed to be the Houghton's Seedling of the nursery catalogues. This fence being very old and unsightly, I proposed to my employer to have Chinese arbor-vita planted against it. She consented only on condition that I should not destroy the gooseberry bushes. It was hard to get the arbor-vitas stuck in between, in some places, the gooseberry plants were so thick; but it was done at length. The ground was bo foil of the creeping roots of blue grass, that I never expected the plants to be of any farther use than of pleasing the lady by their existence; but, to my surprise, they have borne, the past three years, enormous crops, though quite smothered by grass and the arbor-vitae, and without any pruning or attention of any kind I did not, it is true, ever think that they were free from mildew through this smothering up; for until I read Mr. Bacon's remark, I always thought this kind never mildewed; but I certainly did think this neglect every way suited to it. My own idea is, that the English varieties are much more liable to mildew than any other kind, at any rate.

I think all smooth, glossy-leaved plants more liable to mildew than others. The foreign grape, with its tender skin, easily mildews, while the rough, coarse-foliaged native is nearly exempt. In my experience as a gardener, I have noticed that cold draughts in a vinery are nearly certain to breed mildew, or sudden changes of any kind. I am no botanist, and am unable to say whether the mildew on the gooseberry and that on the vine are of the same nature; but I suppose the effect is the same - that is, that sudden changes of some kind injure the tissue, which mildew is then able to exist upon. If this supposition is correct, the reason is plain why a gooseberry imbedded in weeds is not so liable to mildew. The weeds protect the plant from the sudden changes that cause mildew. I have prevented mildew in some cases, to some extent, by scattering a little salt under the gooseberry bushes. I have noticed that the disease usually makes its appearance after a very dry day; and as, in Mr. Downing's article in your late number, it is stated that "salt helps all dry soils amazingly, giving them greater attractions for moisture, and greater power to hold it in dry weather," this still confirms the idea that anything that will guard the gooseberry from sudden changes, will help to protect it from mildew.

I am but a plain, practical man, and can make no pretension to fine writing; but if you think these lines of any service, I should be glad for you to print them.

[Our friend has our thanks for his sensible communication. It is the "plain, practical men" who, with the many sources of information daily before them, and with the powers of observation such as our correspondent possesses, are the most capable of rendering the greatest service to practical gardening. We commend our correspondent's remarks to; the attention of unsuccessful gooseberry growers. - Ed].